28/12/2025
Wuhan, China – December 28, 2025 (Reuters) – Chinese health authorities are investigating a cluster of unusual respiratory illnesses in a remote village in Hubei province after a 54-year-old local man tested positive for a previously unknown avian influenza strain.
The patient, identified only as Mr. Li, a farmer from the outskirts of Wuhan, was hospitalized earlier this month with severe pneumonia-like symptoms. Genomic sequencing by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) revealed the virus shares close genetic similarities with H5N1 bird flu variants commonly found in wild poultry.
According to local reports and statements from health officials, Mr. Li admitted to consuming raw secretions from domesticated pigeons as part of a traditional folk remedy believed to boost vitality. Villagers described the practice as involving the collection and ingestion of cloacal fluids—sometimes referred to crudely in local dialects—from live birds.
The CCDC has confirmed three secondary infections among close family members, raising concerns about potential human-to-human transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been notified and is monitoring the situation closely, though no widespread outbreak has been declared at this time. "While rare and unverified traditional practices can pose zoonotic risks, we urge the public to avoid consumption of unprocessed animal products," a CCDC spokesperson said in a statement.
Authorities have culled local poultry flocks as a precaution and are conducting contact tracing. Mr. Li remains in stable condition in isolation. This incident echoes the origins of previous pandemics linked to animal-human interfaces in the region, prompting renewed calls for stricter regulation of wet markets and exotic food practices.
More details as the investigation develops.